Sudden cardiac arrest that occurs outside of a hospital results in death nine out of 10 times. This statistic, which comes via research cited by the American Heart Association (AHA), is sobering as it is in part due to the fact that most people don’t know how to perform CPR.
When performed in an emergency, CPR can increase the chances of someone surviving by two or three times. Few know this better than NFL player Damar Hamlin. After experiencing sudden cardiac arrest on the field in January of 2023, the Buffalo Bills safety had his life saved by the team’s medical staff, in part through the swift administration of CPR.
In the wake of the incident, which thankfully resulted in Hamlin making a full recovery, the AHA launched the Nation of Lifesavers. Since 2023, the CPR education movement has succeeded in expanding the global force of lifesavers, with the percentage of US adults who say they know how to perform CPR rising in recent years.
Partnering with the AHA on Nation of Lifesavers is the NFL. In conjunction with World Restart a Heart Day, which is observed annually on October 16, the two organizations announced the 2024-25 Lifesaver Ambassador Class. The ambassadors, who include Hamlin, will spend the year working to expand access to CPR training across the country.
In a statement, the NFL senior vice president of social responsibility, Anna Isaacson, said the league was “proud to continue its partnership with the [AHA].” Nancy Brown, AHA’s chief executive officer, added that, through the partnership, communities around the country will benefit from its members learning the “crucial” skill of administering CPR.
Along with Hamlin, the Lifesaver Ambassador Class is comprised of 10 NFL players from nine teams. Ambassadors will specifically work with the AHA on public service announcements, social media initiatives, and community events. The NFL will also provide grants to teams to invest in CPR training and defibrillator placement in their local communities.
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